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Building Permit - Victoria

Description

You will require this permit if you intend to undertake building or development work. This includes any construction, alteration, removal or demolition of any new or old building or structure.

Further examples of development work include:

constructing sheds, carports or garages

raising fences, signs, masts, antennas, pergolas or verandas

building retaining walls or stairways

re-blocking, re-stumping and re-roofing

installing swimming pools, spas, doors or windows

any renovations.

As part of the permit approval, you may be required to submit management plans that describe how you intend to deal with things like bushfire, waste, flooding, termite risk, or trees and vegetation.

A building permit has commencement (six to twelve months) and completion (six to thirty-six months) time limits that will apply depending on the nature of the building works.

Additional requirements also apply to the reconstruction of class 1a buildings that were destroyed in the 2009 Victorian Bushfires. Furthermore, any building taking place in bushfire prone areas may be subject to additional requirements under the Building Code of Australia.

Exemptions to this permit exist for minor structures and may depend on such things as size, nature and type of work proposed. Examples of exemptions include some pergolas associated with houses, garden sheds with a floor area less than ten square meters and repair work done for maintenance purposes, such as replacing rotted weatherboards.

An application for a building permit may be made to a municipal or private building surveyor. A municipal building surveyor works at the local council where your project is located. Some municipal building surveyors issue permits outside their municipal district, whereas a private building surveyor will issue a permit in any municipality.

Have a discussion with your municipal or preferred private building surveyor before applying to them for a building permit. To ensure your preferred private building surveyor is registered, search for them through the eToolbox.

Please note that once a council municipal building surveyor has commenced assessing a building permit, you cannot switch to a private building surveyor.

Service type

Licence

A licence defines the need to obtain recognition / certification and registration to undertake a certain business activity.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for this permit your application must contain sufficient information to show that the building work will comply with the Building Act and Regulations.

For construction of a new building, you must include:

Descriptions of the intended use of all buildings on allotment plans; and

Three copies of drawings, specifications and allotment plans in the prescribed form and copies of any computations or reports necessary to demonstrate building compliance.

To alter an existing building you must include copies of drawings and allotment plans that clearly differentiate between the existing building and the proposed building work.

To demolish or remove buildings you must include:

Three copies of an outline and description of the building or part thereof to be demolished or removed;

An allotment plan showing the location of boundaries and adjoining buildings, other buildings on the allotment, and streets, footpaths or crossings adjoining the allotment; and

Specified computations or information relating to compliance of remaining buildings.

A heritage certificate may be required from the Heritage Council of Victoria to ensure compliance with the heritage status of the building and site. Please consult with Heritage Victoria in the first instance before commencing any works.

Please consult the Municipal or Private Building Surveyor for information on any further specific requirements and conditions for this permit.

Prerequisites

Might Need

Ongoing eligibility requirements

A Building Permit Levy is payable before a building permit can be issued, however, an application may still be considered pending payment of the levy.

Works restrictions and compliance requirements may be in place if the building work relates to a property that has been, or is in the process of, being registered as of heritage interest or significance.

Various approvals and / or consents under Planning and Environment Acts may also be required prior to the issue of a building permit.

A building permit period may be extended, if warranted, by application to the building surveyor before the permit lapses.

If building works are to be conducted out of hours then additional approval and a permit may be required.

Carports, fences, masts, garages etc. Fees range between $645 and $811.75, please consult the responsible council for information on the correct fees to be submitted with your application. Fees for 2017-18.

Supporting information

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to them and their cultures and to the elders past and present.